Django Festival All-Stars

Showings

MCG Jazz Concert Hall Sat, Nov 18, 2017 6:00 PM
MCG Jazz Concert Hall Sat, Nov 18, 2017 8:30 PM
Concert Information
Musicians:Dorado Schmitt – Lead Guitar, Violin
Samson Schmitt – Lead Guitar
Amati Schmitt - Lead Guitar
Ludovic Beier – Accordion, Accordina
Pierre Blanchard – Violin
Francko Mehrstein – Rhythm Guitar
Gino Roman – Bass
Genre:Guitar

Description

The Django Festival All-Stars bring the music of the great Gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt fully into the 21st Century.  Considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time and the first European jazz musician to make major contributions to the development of the jazz guitar genre, Reinhardt’s driving, swinging style became known as “Hot Jazz.”  The All-Stars pay tribute to Reinhardt and honor the traditions of “French Gypsy Jazz,” adding their own creative interpretations, arrangements, and original compositions with stunning virtuosity.


Led for many years by legendary guitarist and violist, Dorado Schmitt, this tour of the All-Stars will be the first time Schmitt and his two sons, Samson and Amati, will perform together in the United States.  Joining together with the great players to emerge from the successful Django Reinhardt New York Festival that began in 2000, virtuosos Ludovic Beier on accordion and Pierre Blanchard on violin, The Django Festival All-Starts are following in the footsteps of the Hot Jazz tradition of the 1930s and 1940s and moving it forward with original compositions.


 The rareness of this performance heightens the appeal with the group only touring the United States twice a year for six days, appearing at such prestigious halls such as Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Disney Hall in Los Angeles, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, SFJAZZ and the Newport Jazz Festival.


You will swing along with the All-Starts and have your heart broken when they play a ballad; you will recall one of the greatest musical partnerships in European and jazz history when Django teamed up with jazz violist Stephane Grappelli to create the Quintette du Hot Club de France.  You will understand why the Wall Street Journal said of the Django Festival All-Stars, “…you’ll get a sense that the collective talent pool on the bandstand is larger than the Arc de Triomphe!"



Additional Information

MCG Jazz’s mission is to preserve, present and promote jazz. Through our performances, we strengthen the long time Pittsburgh jazz community and contribute to the overall cultural and artistic diversity of the region. Through our live recordings we reach a national and international audience - a market we’d like to grow. Through our educational programs we are able to have students attend the concerts at low or no cost to them, make artists available for master classes and provide opportunities for internships in production and marketing.

Since 1987, MCG Jazz has brought audiences together with jazz artists at its 350 seat music hall in Pittsburgh for innovative 4-day performances and recordings. Many of these international masters of jazz would headline a list of Jazz’s “Needs No Introduction” - Joe Williams, Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown. MCG Jazz Archives now contain over 300 CDs worth of jazz history by those who represent the past, present and future of jazz music. The performance series, one of the oldest in the nation, is an anchor of Pittsburgh cultural and community life.

The jazz artists come to the Guild to perform with an understanding that we’re a school. Most leave feeling that they got as much or more from their MCG experience than they gave. They frequently mention “hope” and “the spirit of the place.” You will hear what they mean in their recordings. MCG Jazz label recordings are unusually joyful. Artists spread the word and encourage others to perform here. Many come back time and again, choosing to record something unique on the MCG Jazz label. They generously give proceeds to support our programs.


GUIDE TO THE GUILD:

PARKING

• MCG has parking lots in both the front and rear of the building. Front parking is reserved for MCG Jazz Club members with a parking pass. The rear lot is free and open to all other patrons. In the event that the lots are full, you may park onthe street or at the Casey Industrial Park.

CHILDREN

• Children are always welcome at MCG Jazz, and we invite you to bring yours at any time. All children must have a purchased ticket, but student discounts are available for most shows. Please remove disruptive children.

LATECOMER & RE-ENTRY POLICY

• Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of your concert. Latecomers will be seated at the first convenient pause in the program.

• House management and ushers will not open the doors after the lights are dimmed or during the artist’s performance. Management accepts no responsibility for this inconvenience.

CAMERAS AND RECORDING DEVICES

• Recording devices are not permitted in the concert hall.

• Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices.

• Remember: the light and sound from your cell phone, Bluetooth headset, or other personal device is distracting to others.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

• Wheelchair seating is available and can be requested when buying tickets. If you have any other needs, please bring them to the attention of the box office when purchasing tickets or to an usher upon arrival at the concert hall.

SMOKING

• Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild is a non-smoking facility.

CONCEALED WEAPONS

• Concealed weapons are not permitted on the property.

COATS & BAGS

• A coat rack is provided for your convenience. Please do not carry large bags, strollers, or other disruptive items into the concert hall. Management accepts no responsibility for items left at the coat rack.

DRESS CODE

• MCG Jazz does not enforce any type of dress code. Many patrons dress “business casual” or “evening casual,” but please wear whatever makes you most comfortable.

REFRESHMENTS

• Refreshments can be purchased at the bar in the lobby.

• Food & drink of any kind are not permitted in the concert hall.

• Management reserves the right to refuse service and admission to any person whose conduct is deemed inappropriate or disruptive to the audience or performers.